Combination emergency wheel and antiskid device



2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1948. 0, sCHLET-r COMBINATION EMERGENCY WHEEL AND ANTISKID DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1946 Nov. 2, 1948. o. scHLETT COMBINATION EMERGENCY WHEEL AND NTISKID DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 2, 1948 *UNITIED" STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,452,688. 'MBINTQN pMERGEnoQWHEEL Ani) ANTISKID DEVICE Otto Schlett, Woodside; N. Y. Application Feiiiary 9, 195:6, se'rsino. 646,528

(c1. soigne `s claims.

This invention broadly' relates tor combination emergency Wheelsv and `:niti'skiridevices for velfii` clesequi'pned with and' supported 'by Wheels ysuch es automobiles airplanes, etc'.

Devices intended to serve 'as' solostitutes for snow or skid chains nsoauverriploved Awith vehicle Wheels are 'known in the 't, 'and in "Ino's't Calses are constructed inthe form of links, prongs or otiier similar' means for f'ricti'onaiiy engaging' 'the road surface no'riiia'lly` supporting the tires of the vehicle; However, 'nonel oi the' pserit`=day devices.v disclose a Contii'iioi's4 r'oa'de'ei'g'agig' S'rfaje which, to at 'least 'some vdesinee, vvill approximate the normal rolling movement of a; tiie over the roe-d". Furthermore, 'most o'f tire4 devices known at present nave tneriisadvaritage of lacking provisicm" for 'excluding foreign matter, such as" dirt and dost', from their mechanism, Awith the 'result that the operation or the 'device 'becomes greatly impaired or nia'de totally impossible' when needed most.

Another important diseidvataeeoirs feature vof such devices mayv be found in' the constuc'tional arrangement of the'oad-engaging elements which are usually `spaced from one another 'andinduce a lininpy oper'ation of the" vehicle eqlippe'd therewith.

Thel most undes'ireibiel feature of siren ldevices resides in the feetthet they continuously rotate with the venic'ie wnee1, both in their 'retracted as Well as in their roadeen'ga'ging position'. Such continuous movement With the Wheel subjects the mechanism to eem'rif'ugeiforce, which is bound to effect the opration of the devices 'ao and# tion 'renders them vervnois'y.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a, combination eirie'rgenc'yy wheel and antisk'id device which is of relatively simp1e but effective construction, and which is vequipped"with a continuous yroam-eng'aging surface 'win-'fon 'pro-v Vides' not only aiitiskid 'iic'i'iofiy loutalSo may read# ily serve to support the vehicle duiingextensive runs when the wheel of the vehicle is incapable of vsuolziorting' the load, 'for instance, when 4tlie tire becomes defective'.

Another important feature 'of the present 'invention resides in the provision of a virtually/'dustproof lconstruction of the device, 'which prevents the in ltration of foreignmatter to the Working parts thereof, and wherein means are provided for so supporting the road-engaging Working pelrt's as to very' 'nearly approximate the nor-mal rolling movement of a Vehicle vvhe'el over-its suppotingsurface.

A still further and very important provision of the present invention is the positive manner whereby the power frozfn 'the wheel yaideY is transmit-ted to the' combine-tion einergencywiie-ei and antiskid device, wherein ioSsi-ble slippage' or failiire `of 'the device 'to operate dniii'g'tlie eiid it engages the road is virtually eliminated.

Sill

Another and veryr important object of the present' invention is the provision of a combination emergency Wheel and -antiskid device', wherein the road-engaging portion thereof normally assu'e's "a lined, Iiinr'rit'nfellole position in concentrioity with the vehicle vir-heel` when the device' is not yin use, and only' then is caused vto operate when proue-rit into engagement with the road surface; l

roaly-speking', theedevioe comprises a bodily in'ov'able 'annlu's composed of severzajl concentric parts, which, Wh'iie 'the' device lis in its inoperative position, are retained concentriallvlin respect to the' vehicle Wheel, and Vwhen the device is moved into-engagement with theroad, assume an 'ec-centricposition relative to the whee1, and at the same time receives -p'owe from the Wheel Stiftie' -to` ifipit 'Otai Int-l t0 tlitt 130'!"-y tion of the annuliis' which in engagement with the road. In other Words, during" normal operation foi the vehicle, the present emergency wheel and "ritiskid devi is -held -xed position and doesn'ot move With the Wheel, but, When emergericy' ari'ses' f-"o'r its use, it becomes operative as it is 'broiight iiito "engagement with the road Si'fie.

jiiioiple bf the present invention and the disclosed 'typical v''st'iioturlal arrangement thereof, intended to serve for explanatory iiulrposes on-ly,

will become more ffii-ny understood 'from the 'f'ioiw onliconjunction vvth the eccome pony f g" drawings, wh rein'f Figi. 1l :is a' diagram indicating the present device "as an tof'an `existing vehicle Yvvheel, and sho infits inoperative' positiori, concentric With thevflheel;

F. lS' 23E-'Similar' d-iag'l'in showing the device -o'pe'r'ative sls'iliiofl, eccentric to the' Wheel;

ATE 7. 3 isst plan vi'evv,-fseen from the interior side Wheel of ne Structural embodiment 0f the' presenti ventio;

Fie. 4 Vvseo-tion 'tnerethrougm taken on line 444 of Fig. 3;

Fig. f5 'is plan of traction or tread elements employed in the present device;

Fig. 7' is a fbot-icntrolffor governing the opera tion voi' "the device, 'shown in its released position;

FJS i's :a p viW thereof v A Fig. 9 'is thev foot-'control in vitsdepressed' posi tion; Y

'io isa section'tnrougn e modined form of thefdvice, similar to that illustrated in Fig'. 4; emi

111 'is a ragmerrtal plan view of a portion ofthe-device shown in Fig. 10.

Refrfrii-ig' no'vv Speci'oal'ly to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral' l0 indicates the tire mounted on the fini o'f a Wheel stri-icture, :including a wheel disc the latter is journaled in a suitable manner in 3 axle housing I3. At its interior face disc II is provided with an endless series of power transmitting elements I'4 arranged concentrically about axle I2.

Disposed normally in concentricity with tire I9 is an annulus I5 composed of a relatively stationary ring frame I9 and a virtually channelshaped rotary ring I1, supported by and movable about the ring frame. Secured to the upper and lower portions of ring frame I6 are connectors I8 operative in guides I9, which latter are Xedly associated with the framework journaling the axle. Ring frame I6 is movable only in vertical upward or downward directions and cannot rotate. However, channel-shaped ring I1 does rotate about ring frame I6. One ofthe flanges 29 of ring I1 is provided with teeth or similar power transmitting elements 2I adapted for intei-engagement with power transmitting elements I4 when ring frame I6 is moved into the roadengaging position shown in Fig. 2. In that position the rotation of wheel disc II is transmitted to flanged ring I1, which will then roll over the wheel supporting surface simultaneously with tire I0, provided the tire is in condition to support the load. In the event the tire is deiiated or defective, ring I1 will take over the support of the vehicle load.

As will be seen in comparing Figs. 1 and 2, annulus I5, composed of ring frame I6 and ring I1, does not move when in its inoperative position shown in Fig. l, whereas ring I1 willl rotate about ring frame I6 when the annulus is brought into operative, road-contacting position.

Considering now Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated the conventional construction of a tire I0 supported by the rim of a disc II, which is attached to brake drum 22. 'Ihe brake drum is provided with a hub 23 secured to axle I2, the latter being supported by suitable bearings in tubular axle housingnI3. Forming an extension of the axle housing isA a disc-shaped formation 24 provided with an inwardly turned, dust-excluding peripheral rim 25.

Secured to the brake drum between rim 25 and wheel disc II at 26 is a dished member 21 prok vided with an annular, substantially disc-shaped flange 28. Member 21 forms the outer rotary or movable portion of an annular housing 29 arranged about axle housing I3. The stationary portion of this annular housing is inthe form of a disc 39, preferably composed of two overlapping semi-discs 3|' and 32, secured to each other in any suitable manner, for instance as indicated at 33. 1 Between disc 30 and shaft housing I3 there is preferably arranged a gasket 33. Attached to and supported by the annular flange 24 of the axle housing are two guide members I9 and I9', to which is secured outer housing member 30 by means of bolts 34.

Lodged within suitable guide bores in guide members I9 and I9' are connector rods I8, which are bridged by connecting bar 35. The ends of connectors or guide bars I8 arefixedly attached to the upper and lower portions of -substantially stationary ring frame I6 of annulus I 5. This ring frame has a smooth outer bearing surface, or is provided with anti-friction devices suoli as balls or rollers, not shown in the drawings. Operative upon the bearing surface of ring frame I6 is the interior bearing surface of outer rotary ring I1, which latter preferably takes the form of and has a cross section resembling a channel. This ring ing an angular cross section, as indicated in Fig.

4 4 at 36, the other comprising a ring-shaped element 31 which i-s secured by bolts 38 or otherwise to angular portion 36. The inner flange surfaces of rotary ring I1 embrace ring frame I6, and the outer flange faces are *inv intimate engagement with the inner faces of disc flange 28 of the movable housing portion and disc 30 of the interior or stationary housing portion. The close lit of ring I1 with the housing walls excludes the infiltration of foreign matter, such as dust and dirt, into the housing interior, thereby effectively preventing undue wear and tear of the operating portion-s of the device and assuring their continuous, faultless function.

Referring again to disc-like or ring-shaped flange 28 of the exterior housing portion, it will be observed that extending from the interior face thereof is an endless series of circularly disposedv rollers 39. The interior flange 31 of rotary ring I1 is provided with an endless series of engaging elements in the form of teeth 49, which are adapted for interengagement with rollers 39.

Referring to the upper ends of connectors I8, there will be observed spring elements 4I inter-y posed between the upper portion of ring frame I3 and the upper ends of guide block I9. Similar, but shorter spring elements 42 are shown interposed between the bottom portion of ring frame IE and bar 35 bridging the lower ends of conhector-s IB. Spring elements 4| are intended to facilitate the suspension of ring frame I6 in its floating, inoperative, normal position, concentric with tire I0. Spring elements 42 are designed for absorbing road shocks or vibrations causedY when the device is either in operative or inoperative positions, so as to simulate or approximate the rolling operation of Ythe wheel tire.

Disposed within guide block I8 there is a hydraulic device or ram 43, comprising a cylinder and a piston 43', which engages and is fixedly connected at 44 with bridging bar 35 for connectors I8. By means of this hydraulic device, connectors I8 may be moved in vertical upward' or downward directions, whereby annulus I5, composed of ring frame I6 and rotary ring I1, is bodily moved to either a concentric or eccentric position in respect to the wheel structure.

To the outer periphery of ring I1 there is detachably secured a series of antiskid road-engaging elements 45, the construction and function of which may be best perceived by consulting Figs. 5 and 6. These tread elements are designed to form a continuous tread surface. Their bodies are arcuated and of substantially arrow-shaped forms, having one end pointed, the other endbeing cleaved or bifurcated, as indicated, respectively at 46 and 41. Pointed end 46 is undercut at 46', Vwhile the bifurcated end is beveled correspondingly at 41 so that when the pointed end of one tread element is placed over the bifurcated end of another element, the two elements register with `one another. In that position they are then attached by 'means of screws passing through drill holes 48. Due to the interlocking engagement of two adjacent tread elements only one screw for Veach element is `required'to hold the elements against ring member I1.

It will-be observed that the outer faces of the tread elements are provided withY a diamondshaped, raised patterniwhereas the portions in which the screw-.receiving holes 48 are located are below the raised ,faces'of the pattern. Obviously, the 'traction-producing pattern need not be diamond-shaped, and any other suitable pat- 5 teun 'arrangement ipmvidin-g the :desired traction! eirect. may be substituted.

Referring now to Figs. 7 8 .and v9., these illustrations; disc-lose one of; the many possible constructions of control means designed for convenientoperation ofV the device. Although such controi'means maybe located vanywhere in the velricl'eandmay be. hand-operated. it' .is prei-erred to' 'piace the control on the floor and actua-te it by root, the drawings there is. shown a floorV board'. to' which is hingedly :secured a depressible root pedal 591 normally held in its upward jposition by a spring: 5l. The free end? of foot pedal f5@ is in engagement with a spring'- loadedl detent 52,. provided with `a pedal holding notch 53. When the pedal lis depressed, itmoves detenlt- 52 outwardly until it reaches' lnotch vr53, the'flatter holding the pedal in depressed position. In order .to release the plate, detent 52' is moved by-foo't away ytrom the pedal Ledge.

At the lliottozny of the pedal there is hinged-ly secure-d ativ a rod of a hydraulic piston'- EF1-foperating in Icylinder 15d, which isV connected by means of tubing 51 to hydraulic ram 3- of the device'. When pedal 59- i-sdepressed, the hydraulic liquidl vcylinder E36v is compressed and isl forced through tubing 5? into hydraulic device 4% actuates piston vi3-' Modification Referring! to- Figs. l-I) and il', there isfdisclosedal somewhat modified form of the device, which modincation is very' similar to the structure described' inconnection with Figs. 3 and 4, with the exception: thatthe design of the outer or movable housing portion 531 is'- somewhat altered. It will be observed that bet-Ween wheel H and. brake drunr 22 there is arranged a substantially cupsrhaped member 58.', which follows the outer con-- tou-r of' brake drum 2-2, but terminatesin a cyline drrcally` extension 59v provided at its edge with an endless series` oi perforations 60. rhese per for-ations; together with the material portions di separating the periorations, are intended to take the placeof rollers 39 shown i-n- Fig-s. 3' and 4, and to' serve for accommodating teeth iii of'angeV 31 which forms a part of rotary ring H.

Secured at E2 to the outer periphery of eXtension 59 of cup-shaped member 5B1 is the angular portion of ring E3, forming the outer wall or housing 29a Thus theY only change in the modlfied fori-n` resides in the altered construction of the outer housing portion and of the endless seriesv of elements en'gageable by teeth 4i).

Operation Considering now Figs. 3', 4, l0- and 1:1 in conjunction with Figs. 7, 8 and 9, it wi-ll be observed that the' Aannulus of the combination emergency wheel? and antiskid device illustrated in these gures, normally assumes a concentric position with the wheel body, and that it is held in that position by the combined function of hydraulic ram 43 and spring elements 4l and 42 associated with the upper and lower` ends of connectors or rods i8. In that concentric position annulus l5 is practically immovable, while the outer housing portions denoted in Figs. 3 and 4 at 21, and in Figs. l0 and; at 58, are free toA rotate.

When an=` emergency occurs. necessitating the employmentV of the annulus either as a substitute for the tire or toaugment traction, the operator simply depresses foot pedal 5U' on the door board, thus compressing the hydraulic liquid in cylinder 5%, which turnV actuatfes piston 43 of hydraulic device 43. The downward movement :of

i3" causes bridging bar 35 to .bear :against 42 andto travel toward the ro'a'db'ed,y 'which movement in turn causes ring Vframel E6 to fol-low'. As the ring frame t6 is thus moved in downward direction it .takes with it rotary ring I'l..` Theatre nulus nfow assumes an. eccentric kposition .to tire ifo, and teeth 4o of ring I1 engage Amotion transmining elements or' 6l shownVi-n Figs. 3 "andi 111,

' respectively. At the same time the continiio'us"A antiskid Atread secured to ring rI 'E engagesxthe road, whereby the device either takes over" or 'augments the weight-supporting or traction func* tions oi' tire' l0.

When the device islr thus placed into operative position, the vehiclev Will ride nearly as smoothly" as supported by the tire, since lower springs 12?,- asso'ciated with rods I'8, will permit the device to accommodate itself to road unevennesses. These:

f springs, incidentally, also are intended to permit an upward movement of the annulus, while-heid in inoperative, concentric position, when, 'forV instance, `the' tire is insuiciently inflated or when itA rides over sudden obstructions, the design'- of these springs being such that their compress# bility corresponds to` the pressure in the iniiated tire.

While in the illustrations specific structural' details are disclosed, they are shown anddescribe'dl for the purpose of' elucidating the basic features of 'the present invention, and are by no means intended to restrict the latter' to the detail con'- V structiomsince changes, variations and improved f a out aiiectin'g its Working principle.

ments may be readily incorporated therein", with' Inasm'uch as" the present device is applicable to all types" 'of vehicles, changes and modili'cations are practically unavoidable in order to meet-different requirements, it being understood that such changes and modificationsare to' beA considered to li'e' within the broad scope vof the invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

1'. 'In an: emergency wheel and' antislrid devicev i for vehicle wheels, a housing comprising stationary and" movable portions, the latter' portion forming a xed part' of the vehicle wheel body', the stationary portion being ixedlyv associatedwith the wheel axle supporting frame work, a substantially ringshaped structureoperative' within the housing' but being normally stationary and in c'oncentricity with the vehicle wheel, corrnectors extending; from the upper to the low'ei" portion of said ring-shapedV structure, guide means for said connectors Xedly 'secured to the wheel'axle supporting framework,.spring elements" interposed between saidl guide means and the upper and lower portions of said 'ring structure; an operating mechanism' forthe ring structure' arranged' within the housing and being adapted to move the ring structure into contact with the wheel' supporting surface and` to an eccentric' position relative 'to the'vehicle wheel, said spring; elements being adapted to render the ring" struc'- ture suici'ently responsive inY its rolling move-- ment over a supporting surface to approximatethe usual'or'normal rolling function of the vehicle wheel'. Y

2'. Ina device for the purpose indicated, a circular housing, designed to exclude foreign matter, disposed adjacent to and concentric with a vehicle wheel and comprising. an outer rotary portion, forming a part of the removable Wheel'stiructure, and an inner', stationary portion, secured to the wheel1 axle-framework, an annulus bodily movable'A between the housing portions comprising nonrotating and rotary members, and being normally stationary and disposed concentrically with the the vehicle wheel, the rotary member being adapted for engagement with the'wheel supporting surface, when the annulus is moved downwardly, connectors extending from the upper to the lower portion of the non-rotating annulus member, xed guide means for said connectors, spring elements interposed between said guide means and the upper and lower portions of said non-rotating member7 an actuating mechanism for said annulus disposed within the housing and being adapted to move the annulus to an eccentric position in respect to the vehicle wheel and into an engaging posi-tion with the wheel supporting surface, said spring elements being adapted to so hold the annulus under tension that it will approximate the normal rolling movement of a vehicle wheel over such surface, the outer, roadengaging tread surface of the annulus being continuous.

3. In a device as per claim 2, 4said non-rotating member of the annulus forming a ring-shaped inner or operating frame associated with and operative by said actuating mechanism, said rotary member comprising a substantially channel-shaped ring rollably mounted upon said frame, and a continuous antiskid tread portion removably secured to said ring, one flange of the channel-shaped ring being provided with an endless series of power transmitting elements, said outer rotary portion of the housing having anannular arrangement of corresponding elements adapted for the reception of and engagement with said flange elements and for transmitting the rotary motion of the wheel to said channel-shaped ring when the entire annulus is bodily moved by said actuating mechanism toward the wheel supporting surface and to an eccentric position in respect to the vehicle wheel.

4. In a device of the class indicated, the combination with a Vehicle wheel structure and its axle frame work, of a housing having movable and stationary, substantially disc-shaped portions adapted to exclude foreign matter from the housing interior, the movable housing portion being associated with the vehicle wheel, the stationary portion being secured to the axle frame work, an annulus disposed between and being operative relative to said housing portions and being normally in concentric position in respect to the vehicle wheel, said annulus comprising an inner ring'member, restricted to vertical reciprocating movements, and an outer ring member peripherally engaging and rotatable in respect to the inner ring member, said outer ring member having exchangeable, continuous tread means at its outer face, and an endless series of engaging elements at its interior periphery, a series of corresponding engaging elements provided with they movable housing portion and being adapted for the reception of and the engagement with the elements of the outer ring member, an actuating mechanism within the housing adapted to bring the elements of the outer ring member into operative engagement with the elements of the movable housing portion and to simultaneously force the tread means oi the outer ring member against the wheel supporting surface, thereby augmenting traction for and relieving load carried by the vehicle wheel.

5. Inga device as per claim 4, said actuating mechanism comprising hydraulically operated Connectors associated with said inner ring mem- 8, ber and guide means for said connectors adapted to restrict their movement in vertical directions, and springs associated with said connectors and bearing against the upper and lower portions of said inner ring member.

6. In a device of the class indicated, a wheel axle supporting frame, a wheel axle journaled therein, a vehicle wheel structure removably supported by the axle and including a brake drum and wheel body, a housing having movable and iixed substantially dise-shaped portions, the movable portion being associated with the wheel structure, and having an endless series of power transmitting means at its interior, the xed portion being secured to the frame, a substantially annular mechanism operative between the two housing portions and being adapted to normallyv assume a position concentric with the wheel, while in inoperative position, and to move to an eccentric, operative position, and to engage the wheel supporting surface, said mechanism comprising a non-rotary ring frame, connectors secured at the top and bottom portions thereof, ixed guide means for the connectors arranged above and below the wheel axle frame, a bridging member provided with the connectors, hydraulic means engaging said bridging member, spring elements associated with said connectors, some of the spring elements bearing against the upper portion of the ring frame, other spring elements being interposed between the bridging member and the lower ring frame portion, said hydraulic means being adapted to impart vertical movements to said ring frame by way of said bridging member, said connectors and said spring elements, a substantially channel-shaped annulus embracing and being rotatable about said ring frame and having its channel flanges directed radially inwards, one of its ilanges being provided with an endless series of power transmitting elements adapted for engagement with power transmitting means arranged at the movable housing portion, the downward movement of the ring frame, caused by said hydraulic means, eiecting the interengagement between said power transmitting elements of the annulus and the power transmitting means of the movable housing portion, an-d exchangeable, antiskid tread means associated with the annulus.

7. In a device as per claim 6, said tread means comprising substantially arrow-shaped elements having pointed and cleaved ends, the pointed ends having undercut, beveled engaging edges, the cleaved ends having correspondingly beveled edges adapted for the reception 0f and the interengagement with the undercut beveled edges of the pointed element ends.

8. In a device as per claim 6, said tread means comprising a plurality of individual, interengageable elements forming a continuous antiskid tread surface when in position.

OTTO SCHLETT.

REFERENCES CITED rIhe following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

